Jets hold Quinton Coples out of team drills on Day 2 of rookie mini-camp

John Munson/The Star-LedgerFirst-round pick Quinton Coples was on the sideline for team drills today.

UPDATED 3:56 p.m.

Quinton Coples stood out when the rookies took the practice field for the first time Friday. Today, coach Rex Ryan held the first-round pick out of the team period of practice, explaining the Jets needed a chance to evaluate the other players.

"Obviously, he had a good first day," Ryan said. "We knew what he could do, and I wanted to see some of the other guys compete, give them an opportunity to get in there and compete a little bit."

Ryan added that Coples is not injured, and that holding him out of practice was Ryan's decision. He said he's done it before, particularly with linemen.

Coples was suited up for practice today and took part in individual drills, before Ryan told him to head to the sideline for the team period. Coples called it a "coach's decision" and he did not ask questions.

Ryan reiterated that Coples, selected No. 16 overall out of UNC, will start this season. He originally deemed Coples a starter at the conclusion of last week's draft, before backtracking and explaining that the Jets have starters in many different defensive packages.

"He's going to start; I don't know what level," Ryan said today, referencing the multiple looks the Jets use. "But he's going to play a ton. Now is he going to play every snap? No, I doubt it, but he's going to play a bunch."

Other observations from today's practice:

++ WR Stephen Hill, the second-round pick out of Georgia Tech, continues to impress. He made a leaping catch in 7-on-7 drills to snag a pass from Matt Simms and later came up with a nice sideline catch in team drills on a pass from Simms. It's just rookies on rookies at this point, but his skill set is very encouraging.

++ Josh Bush and Antonio Allen, the two safeties the Jets drafted, worked together in tandem in the defensive backfield. Bush sat out a few plays toward the end with calf cramps but said he was fine. Allen was hobbling a bit after practice and said his Achilles is sore, but that he would be fine.

++ Hayden Smith, the rugby player turned tight end, made his best catch of rookie camp today, over the middle of the field for 20-plus yards.

++ RB Terrance Ganaway, a sixth-round pick out of Baylor, continued to make nice catches out of the backfield and also showed good burst in team drills

++ Simms is a tryout player who is a longshot to stick with the Jets, but for what it's worth, he made some nice throws today. He has good zip on the ball and good footwork.